Pollution trouble

Every year, November comes and the pollution problem caused by stubble burning takes the centre stage of media reports. A multi-team match starts with foul points that can be categorised as lame excuses, passing the bucks, claims, counter-claims, allegations, ‘steps taken by government but not monitored’, ‘orders passed by court but not executed in letter and spirit’, etc., but none is result oriented. The cause of this incessant phenomenon is lack of political will. No drastic action is taken. Pollution ill-effects caused by stubble burning on the health of the public at large are often irreversible and warrant life-long medical treatment involving huge expenditure and poor quality of life, thereby violating Article 21 of the Constitution.

Rajiv Ohri, Patiala

Poverty data

Apropos of ‘Just how poor we are’, no reliable data regarding population living below the poverty line is available with the government, or the government intentionally does not want to release it. But the undeniable fact is that poverty has increased during the past two decades and no tangible efforts have been made to stop it. Rather the poor have become more poor and the rich have become more rich. Till today, whatsoever measures or policies that have been adopted by the government of the day have not yielded any positive results.

Shadi Lal, by mail

Digital currencies

Apropos of ‘Cryptocurrency fears’, the Indian government has not been able to make up its mind on how to tackle the growing popularity of unregulated digital currencies. While the country’s central bank has been clear on its stand on cryptocurrencies that they are a threat to financial stability, the government seems to be unsure. The message coming out from the high-level meeting chaired by the PM is that the Centre is looking for a middle path. The government is unlikely to ban cryptocurrencies as it believes these are evolving technology with many positive utilities in future. Many countries are slowly legitimising these currencies, which are based on the much talked-about blockchain technology. The US has a Bitcoin Futures ETF trading on exchanges; El Salvador has even allowed bitcoin as a legal tender. The question, though, is to what extent the GOI may like to rein in digital currencies without hurting millions of enterprising investors who have already bet on them. The much-awaited cryptocurrency Bill likely to be tabled in the Winter Session may give some answers.

Vandana, Chandigarh

Fly ash disposal

Reference to ‘Illegal fly ash dumping in BBN belt’; why are companies not adhering to the scientific disposal of fly ash? Why don’t they care about pollution by their method of disposal? This way of disposal of fly ash is a health hazard in the area and may create major health issues for residents of the area. The local authorities must take stringent action against the defaulters and make a provision of proper and scientific disposal of such waste.

Ritish Pandit, Sunhet

Talks more, does little

Refer to ‘Make STF report on drugs public: Sidhu’; while the report must be made public without any further delay, why Sidhu, the de facto CM of Punjab who can get officers of his choice appointed at top positions, cannot get the much-maligned report made public? Being the president of the PCC, his foremost job is to strengthen the party and to make concrete plans to fight the 2022 Assembly elections. But he intrudes into the domain of the government to obstruct its functioning. He talks big, but delivers little. He may be an asset to the Congress in Punjab, but condemning and criticising his own party in public does not behove him. He should discharge his duty by subordinating his personal desires and agenda in favour of the welfare of the state. Only then can he receive the endorsement of the people.

Tarsem S Bumrah, Batala

Nothing has changed

As soon as the face of the Chief Minister changed in Punjab, many promises were made to the people. It was said that Capt Amarinder Singh did not resolve the problems of the people, due to which a resolution was passed and he was asked to resign from the post of Chief Minister. If the Cabinet could pass a resolution against him, it could have got the party to work together. Second, a change of face does not change the government or its policies. Even now, the Punjab Government is formulating new policies, but the problems of the people remain and are not being addressed. Young and old, even children, are sitting on dharnas, demanding their rights. But no attention is being paid to their grievances.

Jasdeep kaur, Ludhiana

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